Rein-button



- (No Model.)

W. H. SANBORN.

,REIN BUTTON.

No. 479,847. Patented" Aug. 2, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SANBORN, OF RUTLAND, VERMONT.

RElN-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,847, dated August 2, 1892.

Application filed February 3, 1892. Serial No. 420,228. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SANBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutland, county of Rutland, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a rein-holder that will assist the driver in holding onto the reins when driving a horse, that will conform to the shape of the inside of the hand and fingers when partly closed, that can be used either with or without gloves without causing the fingers to cramp or impeding the circulation of blood, that can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the reins, that can be quickly and easily adjusted forward or backward on the reins while the horse is under full speed, that will adapt itself to reins of different thicknesses, and that will automatically shut upon and firmly hold the reins when pulled upon by the driver.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in perspective of my rein-holder as held in thehand, showing the rein and the manner in which it is held in place by means of a ratchet or detent acted upon by a spring behind it. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the rein-holder out of the hand, showing the concave surfaces on the forward part each side of the rein, into which the fingers fit naturally. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the rein-holder,showing the mechanism and construction, the dotted lines representing the rein.

Referring to the drawings, A is the body or main part of the rein-holder, cast or wrought, or formed by bent wire in such shape or manner as to conform to the shape of the inside of the hand and fingers when partly closed, provided with the concave surfaces c,which serve to prevent the fingers from spreading and to cause them to grasp the rein B and holder A without anylateral muscular effort, and provided with an open channel or groove into which the rein can be placed, the lower part of such channel or groove forming a bed or fioor b, which serves to guide the rein between the fingers and upon which the rein is pressed by the ratchet or detent A and the upper part of such channel or groove forming a wall over the rein which also assists in guiding the rein to the fingers and serving as aframe for holding the ratchet or detent.

A is the ratchet or detent, provided with a horizontally-corrugated surface I) at the bottom and held in place within the upper part of the body of the rein-holder by apin 0t, passing through the sides of the body and horizontally through the ratchet or detent A at such a point as to cause the lower part of the ratchet or detent to act in an eccentric manner and press the harder upon the rein as the pull upon the rein-holder is increased, and also to accommodate itself to reins of various thicknesses.

A is a spring fastened perpendicularly against the inside of the shell or wall of the upper part of the rein-holder and bent in such a manner as to press against the forward up per part of the ratchet or detent A in such a manner as to cause the corrugated bottom of the ratchet or detent to press downward upon the rein.

B is the rein passing through the channel or groove of the rein-holder. b is the bed or floor upon which the rein is held in place by the ratchet or detent A.

0 represents the concave surfaces of the outer and forward parts of the rein-holder on each side of the rein where the fingers come in contact with it.

a is the pin passing through the upper walls of the rein-holder and through the ratchet or detent.

a is the rivet which holds the spring A in place against the wall of the rein-holder.

In operating my device the rein-holder is taken in the hand, as shown in Fig. 1, and while the edge of the rein which is held in the other hand is presented to the channel or groove the rein-holder is pressed forward and against the edge of therein, when the ratchet will be forced up and the rein move into place in the channel. When it is desired to shorten the reins, it is only necessary to grasp the rein back of the holder with the opposite hand and with the hand grasping the holder push the holder forward to the desired place. When it is desired to lengthen the reins, the rein is grasped forward of the holder with the opposite hand, the thumb of the hand grasping the holder is pressed upon the ratchet at or near the top,which will release the rein from the pressure of the ratchet. The rein-holder is drawn back to the desired place, the pressure of the thumb removed from the ratchet, and the rein-holder is instantly held in place. The adjustment can be made forward or backward and the reins shortened or lengthened instantly while the horse is at full speed,

and the driver can quickly remove the reinholders from one set of reins and attach them to another set or keep them in his possession without the trouble of unbuckling the reins and pulling them through the holders, as is the. case with all other holders. They are made in pairs, rights and lefts; but both can be held in either hand with no inconvenience when driving.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, a rein-holder consisting of a body of shell-like form with rear extensions and curved contour to provide a grip for the fingers and having a channel extending therethrough between a lower table and an upper wall, both of which are horizontally arranged and opening from one side, and a detent mounted in the upper portion and in rear of the body, adapted to be operated by an extension thereof projecting upward, against which a spring has bearing to hold the detent normally closed, the said table extending entirely through the holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of January, 1892.

' WM. l-I. SANBORN.

Witnesses:

BERNARD A. OoNoLLY, MILLIE A. SANBORN. 

